Well i can tell you if they do they can tax it and get out of debt faster and would cut down on crime. it would make smoking it not that special because it being agents the law makes more people want to do it. in saying yes dos not mean you should smoke it, I dont i did as a young teen I dont like what i high or buzz i Cant control so that leaves drugs out lol haha look at all the pot heads every watch anime ever watch anime on WEEEEEEED

I dont understand how people really say no. My thing is, alcohol is legal and has negative side effects too but we still allow it. I live in SoCal so its very very common but maybe thats why I don't have a problem with it. People will do it wether its legal or not so might as well tax and regulate it.

Personally (in the case of my sister), I think drug abuse can begin because of the age-old simple reason of rebellion. In her case she did it because she has always had authority issues, and she had finally managed to make our parents lives enough of a living hell that they let her move out. She moved out of the house and then suddenly there wasn't anybody to ask her where she was going, what she was doing, who she was with, etc. So someone who had always rebelled against authority found herself with exactly what she had always wanted -- she went wild. All those years of careful training, instruction and discipline went flying out the window. If someone really wants to do wrong then they will find a way to do it -- they will not listen to reason or the facts simply because they have decided that what they want is right and what anybody else says is wrong.

No one likes to be told that they are wrong. For some reason (perhaps because of new societal beliefs about child rearing) people are growing up more self-centered than they were say 50 years ago -- it's all about my desires now, my goals now, my dreams now, my career now as opposed to what is best for me in the long run, my family and those around me. I'm not saying that all people are like that just that it is a growing trend. So basically because people are more focused on fulfilling the desire that they want for themselves they shrug off the warnings about the consequences on their lives, their health, and the affects of their actions on others -- yes, what I'm saying is that some people do drugs simply because they are selfish and inconsiderate. This may sound overly critical or even judgmental, but this is actually based on my sister's opinion -- a former drug addict. This is what she now says about herself and her druggie "friends."

If as you agree marijuana or any othe drug use or abuse is wrong then why on earth should it ever be made legal? If legalizing it does not make it right then why should we actively support (by making it legal) something that is against our principles? Legalizing marijuana would send an inconsistent message -- just as the regulation of tobacco and the legalization and regulation of alcohol has done. The majority of people do not smoke, yet second-hand smoke gives many people lung cancer. In spite of this adverse affect on innocent bystanders and in spite of all the educational programs teaching the dangers smokers still continue smoking simply because they want to. The consumption of alcohol is a similar situation. It is legal and acceptable to society, yet many people still suffer from alcoholism, many people are still innocent victims of someone else's drunk driving. Alcohol's one redeeming feature is that in small quantities and when mixed with other medications it is medicinal (eg -- cough syrup). But alcohol drunk for its own sake is dangerous: it clouds the mind, the senses, distorts the personality, erases memories, and has various documented adverse physical effects.

Marijuana is just as dangerous as alcohol and tobacco if not more so. Yet when the evidence is presented to some people they outright deny it because the source may be from the government. They state that such evidence is not "scientific," and deny it all together. There is a lot of new scientific evidence out there that proves that it is dangerous, but there are also a lot of websites that promote marijuana claiming that they have scientific evidence. Who do you believe? In my case I tend to believe those whose agenda in my opinion and from my experience is less self-destructive (eg -- the government and its scientists).

Anyway, sorry for giving such a long answer. I'm "chronically verbose."

Okay so you said why on earth should drugs or any abuse should be ever made legal. This is what I'm telling you... It is up to the people. As you mentioned before, alcohol prohibition in 1920 didn't stop people from getting their hands on alcohol, instead it created a much bigger mess with gangsters and bootlegging. Well that didn't work so I'm saying even if it's wrong... people are going to find ways to do what's wrong (as you mentioned) and it will probably reduce crime rates. If people want it, they'll do it. I never said man was perfect and that they won't make mistakes so if they want to harm themselves for selfish stupid reasons then let them, but I don't think there is a real harm in trying. IF there is harm.. then do what they did with alcohol. Prohibit it.
hahahaJust because it isn't legal doesn't mean people aren't doing it as much even if it were.

So I'm just going to drop it since you obviously don't hear me out. Anyway your long essay wasn't necessary since your point is already clear.

Dat prohibition reference was epic and says a lot xD way to relate to history. maybe history will repeat itself? nuff said :]

No, legalization encourages use, and any taxes high enough to counteract that would simply cause people to resort to black or gray markets that avoid the taxes. Even with cigarettes and alcohol you still have smuggling of those drugs from low taxed states into high taxed states to avoid those taxes, and the current illicit drug market would pick it right back up again anyway, legal or not.